As I was reading an article about "fan loyalty," I was thinking about my own to the Earnhardt family.
It's a strange thing this NASCAR.
I have never met Dale, Teresa, Dale Earnhardt Jr., or any of their siblings, but yet I feel as if they would welcome me with open arms if I ever did.
I remember reading a book about "The King" when I was a young boy. I don't know if I had ever even seen a race at that point. I certainly knew who Richard Petty was.
But a fan? Not yet.
I remember seeing hi-lites of races on ABC's "Wide World of Sports."
Sometimes they would pick up a feed during the last 50, maybe 75 laps of a race. I'm not sure if I watched the first "Flag to Flag" coverage in 1979, but I might have.
I started following NASCAR full time during my late teens. Why I became a fan of "The Intimidator," I can't recall the details, but the way he commanded a race track as if it was his, held my attention like nothing I had witnessed before.
Now, I admit that I do drive like a pissed off teenager on occasion, (my girlfriend will beg to differ on the occasionally part). I think we all have a little Dale Sr. in us
.
February 18, 2001 was a day that shook everyone to the core.
I had to tape the race because my non-NASCAR related family functions awaited.
Oh how times have changed.
As I was getting ready to watch The Great American Race, my then girlfriend told me that Dale had died.
Uh...Pardon?
I refused to believe that my hero, The Man in Black, had indeed been killed.
I stared in dis-belief as Mike Helton repeated those words we all still can't understand, "Today, we lost Dale Earnhardt."
It hurts right now as I type it.
Strange thing this NASCAR.
I still have the race on tape, but refuse to watch it.
As I sit here at my desk, I am literally surrounded by him.
Pictures, die-cast, magazines, and even trading cards fill my display case.
Do I now cheer for Jr. because of his Dad?
Maybe, but I probably would have been a fan even if Dale were still alive.
Sure, my No. 8 collection has now become filled with No. 88 gear, die-cast, and Jr. everything, my loyalty has never wavered.
Being at a race live, and seeing how fans, true fans, are towards their drivers, is quite an experience.
To know that Dale Jr. can hear the crowd when he takes the lead, is remarkable.
My loyalty runs deep and I hope you're as passionate a fan as I.
The way it was, or the way it is, doesn't really seem to be an issue to a real race fan.
If it's got four wheels, an engine, and MY driver behind the wheel, he's going to beat YOUR driver.
Strange thing this NASCAR.
If your driver is doing well, cheer your lungs out. But when times get tough, cheer even louder
.
We have been called "the most passionate and loyal fans in all of sports".
It has been over seven years since a man I've never met, brought me to tears.
His son did the same thing when he won the 500.
Fan loyalty.
Yea, I got some.
BW
Very well put!!